Chapter 14 – keep trying

In the next week leading up to Piper's birthday, Alex spent most of her spare time thinking about how she could show Piper how much she meant to her. Money was tight at the moment, and most of Alex's wages went towards helping Diane pay the bills and buy whatever Lucy needed for school. She knew Piper understood that she didn't have much money at the moment, but Alex still wished she could buy Piper something nice. Ever since that night at Nicky's house, Alex did everything she could to try and make it up to Piper, all she wanted to do was show Piper how much she loved her. Piper agreed to not tell Diane about the heroin or the cut on Alex's leg, but Alex did talk to Diane about how she had run out of the therapy session. Danny was trying to reschedule the session, which just made Alex embarrassed about the whole situation. Through it all, Alex kept reminding herself that she couldn't lose Piper, that's what kept her going.

Each night before they went to sleep, Alex and Piper would talk while they lay in bed together. Sometimes the conversation would be completely trivial, other times Alex opened up to Piper about how she felt during the day. It slowly became a new ritual for them as the week went on, and it always ended with Alex falling asleep with her head on Pipers chest. Ever since their confrontation at Nicky's, Piper took the week one day at a time. She appreciated those quiet moments between them in bed, but she still felt an underlying fear. A fear that made her hold onto Alex tight while she slept.

It was Thursday morning, Piper's birthday was the next day. As Alex sat with Diane before they both went to work, all she could think about was how to make the day special for Piper. "I want to make the day perfect for her mum, show her how much I love her. I want her to feel like the most important person in the world."

This made Diane smile, she knew a lot of people just looked at Alex as a trouble maker, but Piper brought out the best in her. And Diane knew that Alex meant every word, "You will sweetie. You take her out during the day, then bring her back here for dessert."

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Alex was feeling nervous as she knocked on Piper's door the next day, she had never felt this nervous over a girl before. Piper opened the door and looked beautiful as always. Her hair was pulled into a loose bun, and she was wearing a light sundress. Alex couldn't stop smiling when she saw her, "happy birthday beautiful," Alex immediately leaned into Piper and kissed her slowly. Now Piper was the one who couldn't stop smiling, "so, where are you taking me?"

Alex just smirked at her, "now that, is a secret."

Alex drove Piper to their final destination, keeping her blindfolded the whole way. It was only a 15 minute car ride, but to Alex it felt like forever. They eventually got there, Alex stopped the car and went around the car to open Piper's door. She led Piper a few steps away from the car and undid the blindfold. Piper opened her eyes and looked around, they were in a small park, where everything was green. There was a small pond in front of them, with huge willow trees surrounding it. The trees had enormous roots lying just above the ground, creating the perfect place for them to sit. Alex brought Piper over to one of these trees, where they sat amongst the roots. Piper wrapped her arms around Alex's neck and kissed her softly, "it's beautiful here Alex, I love it."

Alex thought Piper would like it here, but she still wanted to explain why this place was so important to her, "I thought you'd like it here. Look…..you know money is tight at the moment, and I feel really shitty that I couldn't spoil you the way you deserve, but I still wanted to make this a special day."

Piper just smiled as she kissed Alex again, "Al, you do spoil me, money doesn't matter. No one has ever spoilt me the way you do, no one has ever given me this much of their love."

"Then everyone else is crazy." Alex couldn't stop herself from leaning into Piper, and tracing kisses from her collarbone, slowly up her neck and eventually to her lips. She pulled away before things got too heated, "Since I can't buy you any fancy presents, I decided to write you this instead." Alex reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper she had folded into small pieces, she handed it to Piper, who eagerly unravelled the paper so she could read her girlfriend's words.

Piper

I never actually believed people like you existed, no one else has ever made me feel the way you do. You make me feel like there's no one else in the world, like so long as I have you, nothing else matters. Those silent moments we spend together, whether it's in bed, on the couch watching a movie, or driving home after work, those moments are the most important. Those moments prove to me that we belong together. There doesn't need to be any words, there doesn't need to be any plans, so long as we're together, I feel whole. You put up with my antics, while dealing with a million other things, and you never miss a beat. Seriously, how do you do that?

You are so brave Piper, never forget that. You're chasing your dreams, which is more than most people will ever attempt. You stood up to your parents, and you've even given Nicky a run for her money! You fit so perfectly into my life, it's hard to believe you haven't always been a part of it. I know I'm not always the easiest person to be around, but you've never given up on me, even when most others would have. You see the good things in me, the things that sometimes I lose sight of, but you never do. You see the good in all people, see the things in themselves that they forgot were there. You are patient, and kind, and incredibly beautiful. All I want to do is spend the rest of my days making you happy. I don't have much money, but I do love you more than I thought possible, I can't imagine my life without you. I will always protect you, will always try to make you feel like the most important person in the world.

I've brought you to one of my favourite places, one of the few places where I feel at peace, and a place that I have never brought another person. Diane brought me here to tell me she was pregnant with Lucy. Things had been tough for a while, we'd moved around a lot, and we'd just moved into our current apartment. I was almost 10 years old, and a pain in the ass! Diane was worried about how I would react, so she brought me here to tell me I'd have a little sister in 6 months time. I remember that day so vividly, she told me she was having a baby, a little girl. She had already decided on the name Lucy. I didn't say much at first, then she told me how important it was to be a big sister, how the strong bond between us would be completely inevitable, how that bond has a special type of love. Then, after Lucy was born, I just instantly loved her, that's the only way I can explain it. Ever since that first time Diane brought me here, it has been a special place for me. It's a place that has always reminded me how important love is, how some bonds are just meant to be, how some people will always be a part of your life. I've come here a lot over the last 10 years, it always calms me down.

When I was thinking about what to do for your birthday, it made so much sense to bring you here. From that first night I saw you, I knew it was inevitable that I would talk to you, it was inevitable that you would become a part of my life. I started falling in love with you from that very first night, and I knew we would always be a part of each other's lives. Now, with you here, I feel even closer to you.

Never forget that I would do anything for you, I love you more than I can ever put into words. Happy birthday Pipes.

Love, Alex.

Piper held the page to her chest as she looked at Alex, "this means more to me than any present you could buy. No one has ever done something like this for me, or written things like this for me. I don't even know what to say, I love you Al." Piper leaned over for another hug and kiss. She was completely taken aback by Alex's letter and that she had brought her to this place. This gesture meant more than she could ever express through words, it made her fall in love with Alex even more. Piper was overcome with emotion, and felt a few silent tears roll down her cheeks as she kept her lips pressed against Alex's.

Alex wiped away Piper's tears, "I hope those are happy tears." Piper just nodded as she laughed at herself. "Well, don't go anywhere, I have another surprise for you." Alex ran back to the car to get the supplies she brought along. A few of the girls at the café insisted on helping Alex buy some picnic supplies, they would not take no for an answer. Alex was overwhelmed by their generosity, she couldn't express how much she appreciated it, none of them had much money. She walked back to Piper and laid out a picnic rug in-between the tree roots. She then pulled out a bottle of white wine, with a selection of cheeses, crackers and olives.

"Alex, this is perfect! Did I mention that I love you?" Piper couldn't keep the smile off her face as she leaned over to cut herself some cheese as Alex poured the wine.

Alex smirked as she replied, "you may have mentioned it." The two girls spent the next 3 hours in the park, enjoying their wine and nibbles, and talking about everything and anything. Piper was sitting in between Alex's legs, leaning back into her chest as the sun set in front of them, "Al, this has been the best birthday I've ever had. You've made me feel more special today than I ever have before. I know I've said it a lot today, but I really fucking love you." Piper leaned back into Alex so she could reach her lips. The two girls sat under the tree and continued to kiss as the sun went down.

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After the sun went down, the two girls headed back to their apartment building. Alex knew that Lucy had gotten Diane to help her bake a chocolate cake for Piper, and Lucy had made some of her own birthday decorations. Alex had also arranged for Danny to be at the apartment, she wanted at least one of Piper's family members to be there, and Alex had a lot to thank Danny for.

As soon as Alex opened the front door for Piper to walk into the apartment, Lucy ran straight into her, giving her a hug, "Happy birthday Piper! Look, we made you a cake." Piper looked towards the kitchen table and saw Diane and Danny standing there. Piper knelt down and hugged Lucy back, trying to hold back her tears. "Hey, why are you crying?" Lucy whispered into her ear.

"It's ok Lucy, I'm just happy, thank you so much for the surprise." Piper hugged Lucy tight before standing up and hugging Diane and Danny. They all sat around the small table, ate their cake and enjoyed the time together, laughing. After a couple of hours Danny left, Lucy was exhausted and fell asleep with her head on the kitchen table. Piper got up and put her arms around the little girl, "I'll put her to bed." Piper picked Lucy up and headed to her bedroom, carefully lying her down on the bed. Piper took off her shoes and socks and tucked her into the covers. Just as Piper was about to get up and leave the room, Lucy put her arms around her neck, "I hope you had a good birthday Piper, I love you."

This made Piper's heart swell, "I had the best day ever, I love you too." Piper headed back to the kitchen and passed Diane on the way, "I'm calling it a night sweetie."

"Goodnight Diane, thank you again for tonight, you don't know how much it means to me." The older woman just smiled at Piper and squeezed her hand before walking to her room. Piper found Alex clearing the last few dishes. Piper walked up behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist, inhaling the smell of her hair, "thank you for organising all this. It was perfect." Alex turned around, placing her hands on Piper's hips before pulling her into a kiss. "You deserved to have a perfect birthday. I know I really put you through a lot lately and I want to make it all up to you." Piper took Alex by the hand and led her to bed.

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Alex woke up the next morning to Piper straddling her lap, softly kissing her on the mouth, "last night wasn't enough for you Pipes?" Alex smiled into the kiss as Piper kept going, "it's never enough," replied Piper, and she really meant it, she couldn't even describe what it felt like when she had sex with Alex. Just a few moments later, Alex's phone rang, "just ignore it Pipes, do not stop what you're doing." Piper's eyes momentarily moved to the side table where Alex's phone was, she noticed who the caller was, "it's Emily."

"Fucking hell, just ignore it." Alex did not want this morning's wake up call to be interrupted by Emily of all people.

"You know she won't stop calling, just answer."

Alex signed dramatically as she leaned over and answered the phone. Piper could see the frustration on her face, but this was something they needed to deal with. Alex ended the conversation quickly, turning to Piper when she was done, "well, you got your wish, we're meeting her for a coffee today."

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Piper and Alex sat in the coffee shop as they waited for Emily, Piper could see how nervous Alex was, she wouldn't stop fidgeting, "it'll be ok Al, I'm right here with you remember." Alex just nodded, but didn't say anything. She just wanted this meeting to be over, meeting Emily just reminded her about all the things she was trying to forget. After another ten minutes, Emily finally arrived, sliding into the other side of the booth Piper and Alex were sitting at.

"Look, I really appreciate you both agreeing to meet me. I know I've been completely out of line the last two times we met, I'm really sorry. I know I have a problem, I'm really trying to stay clean." If anything, this should have been an issue Alex could relate to, but she didn't have any patience for this girl.

"Look, just say what you want to say, ok. Let's get this over with." Alex squeezed Piper's hand under the table, the meeting had only just started and she was already feeling anxious.

"Ok, I won't keep you long, but you need to know this. Robbie went to see my mum again. Well, he didn't really want to see her, he just wanted to collect more of his old stuff. Anyway, he told her that he wants to try and get Diane back, that he misses her."

Alex's anxiety quickly turned to anger as she leaned over the table and raised her voice, "what the fuck are you talking about?" Piper immediately placed her hand on Alex's shoulder, she knew how quickly things could escalate, and she wanted to keep Alex calm. "It's ok Al, just stay calm." Piper rubbed Alex's arm and eventually, she sat back down.

"I swear I'm not lying. He…..he was talking about going to see Diane again, trying to fix the relationship. I just wanted to warn you, that's all. Maybe you should call the cops, I don't know. I just wanted you to have all the information. My mum is drinking a lot at the moment, so I wasn't sure if she'd reach out to Diane." Now it was Emily who wouldn't stop fidgeting, "I know what he's capable of, so please, just be careful. I don't know where he's been hiding. I haven't said anything to the police yet, I wanted to talk to you first. I didn't want to make things worse for you guys."

Alex's heart was racing, her first instinct was to get up and run, run out of that café, run to Nicky's place. But she knew she couldn't do that again, she couldn't do that to Piper. Instead she put her head on the table and started breathing heavily, Piper was immediately worried and started rubbing Alex's back in long, gentle motions, "are you ok baby?" Alex just nodded her head and tried to slow down her breathing, Emily just sat there and watched. After a few moments, Alex managed to calm herself down. She raised her head from the table and buried it in Piper's shoulder, wrapping her arms around her. Piper pulled Alex in tight, rubbing her back, "it's ok Al, we'll sort this out."

Emily slowly got out of the booth, "I'm really sorry, I'll leave you alone." Emily slowly walked out of the café, leaving Piper and Alex alone. Alex was still clutching onto Piper, she didn't know what to do, she felt frozen, "this is the type of moment when I'd usually go do something stupid."

Piper lifted up Alex's face and looked her in the eye, "you've got me, I know how hard you're trying. Let's go take a walk and calm down. Then we can decide what to do." Piper led Alex out of the café and they started walking back to the apartment block. She was trying to keep all her focus on Alex, but she was petrified of what Robbie would do next. All she knew was that they had to go to the police, and quickly.